The Bounty Of Thankfulness

This post has 697 views.

February 18, 2013

The Bounty Of Thankfulness Is “Greater” Than The Wordly Bounty Itself

Many humans receive numerous bounties from Allah سبحانهوتعالى, yet they do not recognise that these bounties come from Allah سبحانهوتعالى. They, obviously, then do not give thanks and gratitude to Allah سبحانهوتعالى for these bounties. They receive their worldly bounties and blessings but they are missing an aspect that is much more important.

There are other individuals who have been further blessed and guided by Allah سبحانهوتعالى. These are the ones who recognise that these bounties have come from Allah سبحانهوتعالى. In return, they give thanks to Allah سبحانهوتعالى. These people also receive their portion of worldly blessings from Allah سبحانهوتعالى. However, in addition, they have recieved this religious blessing from Allah سبحانهوتعالى: being guided to giving thanks and having gratitude toward Allah سبحانهوتعالى. This religious blessing is much more important than any worldly blessing. This will last them beyond this life and into the Hereafter.

In fact, every worldly blessing that is not accompanied with thanks to Allah سبحانهوتعالى is a calamity. If Allah سبحانهوتعالى blesses a person and guided him to thanking Allah سبحانهوتعالى for a bounty that he has received, that act of thankfulness is better than that worldly bounty and more beloved to Allah سبحانهوتعالى. Allah سبحانهوتعالى is pleased with the attribute of thankfulness and gratitude. And He bestows it as a special grace from Himself to whomsoever He wills. [Ibn Rajab رحمهالله: Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wal Hikam]

The result is that the person will realise that his act of thankfulness to Allah سبحانهوتعالى is yet another bounty that Allah سبحانهوتعالى has bestowed upon him. He, therefore, should strive once again to thank Allah سبحانهوتعالى for that bounty also. This continual realisation will make Allah سبحانهوتعالى more beloved in the heart of the human and will make him try to please and be grateful to Allah سبحانهوتعالى to the best of his ability. [Zarabozo: Commentary on the 40 Hadith of an-Nawawi رحمهالله]